hits and misses

Happy Post-Turkey Weekend to all! In between fixing turkey, dressing, and other eats, I was able to sew up a couple more hats for Megan (the pretty one is still to come).
The black one got a bit snug when I sewed on the ribbon, so hopefully it will still fit.
I also whipped up a batch of lip balm:
They are supposed to be grapefruit-peppermint, but they don’t really smell. The directions command that you only put in a few drops of the smelly oils, but it seems like you really have to dump in a heap to really scent the stuff. I erred on the side of caution this time, since I don’t want the peppermint to burn off any lips.
Work on the candy-colored bucket o’ chic continues, but I am having such troubles with the rolling brim that I am ready to just make a pillbox hat and call it a day (okay, so not really). The first time I picked up four stitches for every five rows and did a suspended bindoff (in the Vogue Knitting book). Rolling. The second time I picked up three stitches for every four rows and bound off on the purl side, thinking that maybe that would influence the brim to roll inward. I steamed it, and it seemed to roll even more! And I got the ruffly effect! So I had to rip that out. Now I’m on the third attempt. The yarn is tired and kinky from the steaming, but I refuse to use fresh yarn until I’ve got this brim figured out. This time I thought, “What would Claudia do?” Ah, yes, SHE would pick up two stitches for every three rows, so that’s what I am doing now. I picked up and am about to start the first row, but I’m already feeling the roll. I MUST BREAK THIS CURSE!!!! Any suggestions or magic spells would be greatly appreciated.

8 Responses to hits and misses

hi Mariko, happy post t-giving! I just finished the last of our triple coconut cream pie!
For the Bucket-o-Chic… I had the same problem with the Diva’s hat. It worked great for about a day and then it would get smushed and would curl. I did her red mohair hat in garter stitch. Worked wonderfully!!!! If you need more info, email me and I will reveal….

I was just over at Maggi’s and read that you have an Elna. Well, what do you know. Me, too! Yours is definitely getting more use than mine. Have you asked Sil what she did with her brim? I tried hers on when she visited Knitsmiths and there was NO rolling of the brim. If she hadn’t been watching me like a hawk, her pink fuzzy would’ve found a new home with me. Not that I’m into lifting anything but weights . . .

Hey, some of these ideas (seed stitch or garter stitch brim) might really do the trick, together with picking up less stitches. And if you have to rip out again, skein up the tired Lamb’s Pride, fill up your tea kettle and run the skein (carefully) through the steam. An easy way to perk up tired yarns.